ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

WORKING AND WAGES ON THE SABBATH.-An eminent minister in Wales, hearing of a neighbour who followed his calling on the Lord's-day, went and asked him why he broke the sabbath. The man replied, that he was driven to it, by finding it hard work to maintain his family. "Will you attend public worship," said Mr. P., "if I pay you a day's wages ?" 66 "Yes, most gladly," said the poor man. He then attended constantly, and received his pay. After some time, Mr. P. forgot to send the money; and recollecting it, called upon the man and said, “I am in your debt." "No, sir,” he replied, " you are not." "How so?" said Mr. P., "I have not paid you of late." "True" answered the man, "but I can now trust God; for I have found that he can bless the work of six days for the support of my family, just the same as seven." Ever after that he strictly kept the sabbath, and found that in keeping God's commands there is not only no loss, but great reward.

THE DAY OF DEATH.-Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, we are going onward to that important day. By day, by night, in business, in pleasure, in health or in sickness, we are still with speed approaching life's closing hour. A traveller in a steam-ship was asked how she liked it. She replied, she should know when the vessel was going. It was going then, but so gentle was the motion, that she perceived it not. Thus it is in human life. We are always floating hastily down the stream of time to the vast ocean of eternity, nor going the slower because we may not perceive the rapid motion, or may be insensible of the speed with which we pass over the billows of life. J. G. PIKE.

A HAPPY KNACK.-There are those who read the records of public events as devoutly as they do the New Testament. To that class belonged good John Newton, so celebrated for simplicity and love, common sense and mother wit. Mr. Newton was wont to say he read the newspaper to see how his heavenly Father was governing the world. All news ought to be sanctified. There is not a subject of public record that does not connect itself with some point of Scripture, as tending to illustrate Divine Providence.

CHRIST IS AN UNSEARCHABLE MERCY; who can fully express his wonderful name? who can tell over his unsearchable riches? Hence it is that souls never tire in the study or love of Christ, because new wonders are eternally rising out of him; he is a deep which no line of any created understanding, angelic or human, can fathom.

CHRIST IS AN EVERLASTING MERCY; "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." All other enjoyments are perishable, timeeaten things; time, like a moth, will fret them out; but the riches of Christ are "durable riches," the graces of Christ are durable graces. All the creatures are flowers that appear and fade in their month; but this Rose of Sharon, this Lily of the Valley, never withers.

THE FIRESIDE.-THE PENNY POST BOX.

The Fireside.

COUNSELS TO PARENTS RESPECTING THEIR CHILDREN.

1.-Impress upon their minds the excellence and importance of integrity. Teach them that it is much better to be poor and honest, than to be rich and dishonest.

2.-Show to them the inestimable value of a good character. You should imbue their youthful minds with the conviction that property is to be acquired only by industry and strict honesty; and that fraud is the high road to poverty, as well as to disgrace. Tell them that honest men always speed better than rogues.

3.-Teach them the important fact, that without peace of conscience they never can be happy.

4.-Remind them often that the eye of God is upon them; that he looks not only upon the outward act, but at the heart; that all dishonest designs, as well as words, and acts, are known to Him.

5.-You should impress upon their minds that one crime generates another one falsehood causes another to be to told-one wrong act leads to another, until there is no knowing where it will end.

6. Keep your children from bad company. You should restrict them while they remain under your care. From ten to twenty is the most important period in their lives. Then they select their associates and form many of their habits-good or bad.

If

7.-Give your children, as well as good precepts, a good example. you tell falsehoods, steal, or cheat, your children will naturally imitate your example; on the other hand, if you conduct yourselves and your affairs in an upright, sincere, and honest manner, then will they be more likely to follow your example.

8.-Lastly: Pray with, and for your children. Read the Bible every day with them. Tell them of the love of Jesus Christ. Then you may anticipate seeing your children pious and happy, for the blessing of God is promised on such efforts for their good.

The Penny Post Box.

THE PIN AND THE NEEDLE.

I MET with a good little fable the other day, which may be useful to fill up a corner of the Pioneer. It teaches us all that we are not to despise one another, and that however humble our position in life we may all be useful in our way-the peasant as well as the prince-for even "the king himself is served by the field," as the wise man saith. SELECTOR.

"A pin and a needle, neighbours in a work contract, both being idle, began to quarrel as idle folks are apt to do. I should like to

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

know,' said the pin to the needle, 'what you are good for, and how you can expect to get through the world without a head?' 'What's the use of your head,' replied the needle, rather sharply, 'if you have no eye?' 'What's the use of an eye,' said the pin, 'if there is always something in it?' 'I am more active, and go through more work than you can,' said the needle. 'Yes; but you will not live long.' 'Why not?' said the needle. Because you always have a stitch at your side,' said the pin. You are a crooked creature,' said the needle. And you are so proud that you can't bend without breaking your back,' said the pin. 'I'll pull your head off if you insult me again,' said the needle. 'And I'll pull your eye out if you touch my head,' said the pin. While they were thus contending, a little girl entered, and undertaking to sew, she very soon broke off the needle at the eye. Then she tied the thread around the neck of the pin, and in trying to pull the thread through the cloth, she soon pulled its head off, and then threw it into the dirt, by the side of the broken needle. 'Well, here we are,' said the needle. 'We have nothing to fight about now,' said the pin. 'Misfortune seems to have brought us to our senses,' said the needle; 'how much we resemble human beings, who quarrel about their blessings till they lose them, and never find out that they are brothers till they lie down in the dust together.""

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. em-TO-DAY man lives in pleasure, wealth, and pride,

have any you cannot hide it. It Never despair when fog's in the air, A sunshiny morning comes without warning.